Prime Minister Kim Minseok on December 4 ordered the mobilization of all available resources, including patrol vessels, aircraft, fishing boats, and merchant ships operating near the accident site off Cheollipo, Taean, South Chungcheong Province, to prioritize the rescue of lives and make every effort to search for the missing in relation to the capsizing of a fishing boat.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced in a press release that day that Prime Minister Kim had issued these urgent instructions to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard after receiving a report on the fishing boat capsizing accident.
Prime Minister Kim also called on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of National Defense, South Chungcheong Province, and Taean County to actively support the on-site rescue operations by providing personnel and equipment that can be mobilized for maritime rescue, ensuring smooth rescue activities at the scene.
He requested the National Fire Agency to establish a cooperative system for maritime rescue activities and to provide emergency relief measures for patients transported to land.
Prime Minister Kim further emphasized the need to ensure the safety of rescue personnel, noting that a high seas warning is currently in effect, which poses risks to rescue operations.
Earlier, at around 6:20 p.m. that day, a 9.77-ton fishing boat carrying seven people capsized in waters near Cheollipo, Taean. So far, three of the seven people on board have been rescued, and the Coast Guard is continuing its search for the remaining individuals.
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